Amber strikes Gold with stylish win

The testing conditions at Navan proved no problem to Golden Amber who visibly relished the soft going for a commanding victory in the Tote Pick Six Maiden.

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor was always travelling sweetly under Billy Lee, who oozed confidence as all his rivals began to struggle two furlongs out.

Lee pushed the well-backed 15/8 favourite clear inside the final furlong to beat newcomer Iveagh Gardens (8/1) by four and a half lengths. Have A Great Day (14/1) was always prominent on debut and kept on to finish a neck further back in third, while Bush Pilot could find no extra in fourth.

Winning trainer Willie McCreery said, “I’m delighted with her as I thought I was being a bit mean on her running three times quickly. She flew through that ground, and Billy said she handled it a lot better than he thought she would. She has a quick, choppy action.

“Billy didn’t have to hit her, she carried him lovely and enjoyed herself. I haven’t been hard on her as she’s so small but she’s improved herself. I don’t think there is anything else for her and she’ll start of early next year.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson